The President’s Own United States Marine Band raised its instruments Tuesday night inside the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium for a spellbinding performance on the main campus of Jackson State University.
It was a night to remember for the near-capacity crowd, with many heads swaying from side to side from sounds that modulated from soothing to swooning to staccato.
Under the direction of Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig of Manchester, N.H., selections began with John Philip Sousa’s “Riders for the Flag,” rose to a vocal salute to Frank Sinatra, and was capped by a crescendo of praise through a musical medley for America’s brave service members in each branch of the military.
For an evening punctuated with applause, there was little else left to say afterward, as evidenced by three distinct words uttered by JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers, who expressed the consensus of the audience: “It was fabulous.”
Dr. David O. Akombo, interim chair of the Department of Music, agreed, and added that “the event was good for the university and the community.” People from several surrounding areas, backgrounds, races and ethnicities gathered on the campus for the spectacular performance.
“Music tells a history and is paramount to developing a cohesive society. A future can be created through song,” Akombo said.
After the concert, one member of the ensemble praised the JSU audience for its hospitality.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said trumpeter and Staff Sergeant James McClarty of Fort Worth, Texas. He said he’s looking forward to more performances in the Magnolia state, possibly including south Mississippi.
Although McClarty has been with the Marine band for nine years, he still considers himself “lucky” to have been selected to be part of the prestigious group. “It was very tough. I competed against 100 people,” he said.
The Marine band was established by Congress in 1798 and is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Its mission is to provide music for the president of the United States and the commandment of the Marine Corps. In July 1998, it celebrated its bicentennial year with a command performance at the White House and a gala concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, which was attended by President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.